About the Cornea-Information & Facts to Know
About Corneal Infections
The outermost layer of the cornea is called the epithelium. If it is damaged from trauma of any type, i.e. getting a foreign body in your eye such as piece of metal, a poke in the eye from a branch or a finger or even from a dirty or damaged contact lens, it is possible for bacteria, viruses or fungi to penetrate the cornea and cause an infection. An infection of the cornea is called a Keratitis or Ulcer.
Keratitis can cause a painful inflammation with a discharge, which if not treated quickly and appropriately, can lead to corneal erosion, corneal ulceration and corneal scarring. Corneal scarring results in a loss of corneal transparency and can require a corneal transplant in order to restore vision. Generally, the deeper the corneal infection, the more severe the symptoms and the greater the potential for loss of vision. If our Corneal Specialists suspect that you have a corneal infection, they will look for certain diagnostic signs to help decide the best course of treatment for that type of corneal infection. Sometimes this might be an antibiotic eye drop, an antifungal eye drop, an antiviral eye drop and sometimes it might even include a steroid eye drop to reduce the inflammation.
Herpes Zoster Keratitis (Shingles)
Herpes Zoster Keratitis is actually caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, called Varicella-Zoster Virus. It is entirely possible that after having chicken pox as a child, the Varicella-Zoster Virus remains in the nerve cells of your body in an inactive state. For a number of possible reasons, the Varicella-Zoster Virus can reactivate later in life and travel through the nerves in your body causing a painful blistering rash. If the Varicella-Zoster Virus travels to your head or neck it can affect the eye and thus cause a corneal infection. It is critical for our Corneal Specialists to diagnose this quickly as the infection can penetrate deeply into the cornea and it can cause scarring. The infection can also result in a loss of corneal sensation, which can be permanent. Our Corneal Specialists may prescribe both oral medications and eye drops to try and resolve the infection and prevent serious damage from occurring.
It is possible for anyone who has been exposed to the Varicella-Zoster Virus to get shingles, however it seems to affect those of advanced age and those with weakened or suppressed immune systems many times more often. Further, corneal problems from shingles may occur many months after the facial shingles appear to have resolved. Therefore, if you have had facial shingles it is important for you to schedule regular follow up appointments with our Corneal Specialists.
Ocular Herpes and Herpes Keratitis
Ocular Herpes or Herpes of the eye is caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus and is the most common causes of corneal blindness in the United States today. Up to 50% of people who have a single Herpes Simplex viral infection of the eye will experience a flare up or recurrence. The virus often leads to irreversible scarring of the cornea.
Ocular Herpes may start as a painful sore on the eyelid or surface of the eye. If left untreated, it may multiply and begin to destroy epithelial cells and progress deeper into the cornea. If the Ocular Herpes penetrates the deeper layers of the cornea and causes a Stromal Keratitis it may cause corneal scarring-so prompt diagnosis and treatment of Ocular Herpes is important.
It is estimated that 400,000 people in the United States have had some type of Ocular Herpes, with more than 50,000 initial and recurring cases being diagnosed each year. Of these, it is believed that 25% are the more severe form of Herpes Stromal Keratitis. The recurrence of Herpes Simplex eye infections is significant in that it appears to recur in about 10% of patients with one year, 23% of patients within two years and 63% of patients within 20 years of their initial infection. Sometimes a recurrence can be prompted by sunlight, stress, fevers or an unrelated eye injury.
Our Corneal Specialists may prescribe both oral medications and eye drops to try and resolve the infection and prevent serious damage from occurring. Prompt diagnosis and medication is critical to preventing any vision loss.
Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, P.C. Birmingham Cornea Specialists Marc Michelson, M.D. and Tyler Hall, M.D. provide diagnosis and treatment of Corneal Infections such as Herpes Simplex Keratitis and Herpes Zoster Keratitis and are conveniently located for patients from Birmingham, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Hoover, Fairfield, Midfield, Alabaster, Bessemer, Adamsville, Forestdale, Fultondale, Gardendale, Center Point, Trussville, Leeds, Moody, Tarrant City, Childersburg, Anniston, Gadsen, Pell City Montgomery, Auburn, Dothan, Prattville, Millbrook, Tallassee, Tuskegee, Tuscaloosa, Northport, Lakeview, Coker, Cottondale, Peterson, Brookwood, Holt, Green Pond, Woodstock, Bucksville, Taylorville, Duncanville, Huntsville, Decatur, Madison, Florence, Athens and Hartselle, Alabama. To learn more or schedule an appointment call us at 205-930-0930.
